The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-06-10
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
THE NATIONAL DRILL AND THE
PRESIDENTS VACATION.

THE NATIONAL DRILL AND THE
PRESIDENTS VACATION.
sergt. Dinsmore and the White House
Cranks - Attorney General Garland's
Retirement-Why He Does Not Wear a
Dress Coat-His Home in Arkansas.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, May 80.
The national drill is a great success, SO far
as the soldiers are concerned. They are here
from every quarter of the United States, and
their drill has shown great skill. The re-
view by the president was witnessed by
many thousands of people, and President
Cleveland expresses himself highly pleased
with the condition of the militia.
The soldiers are delighted with their camp
grounds, and their comforts are much greater
than those of the ordinary camp. All the
tents have floors and some Of the companies
have carpeted their tents. The interior of
these look more like drawing rooms than can
vas tents, and they remind one of the saying
of the noted general who remarked: "This is
all very beautiful, my boys, but it is not
war;" The rain of last week made things very
lively in the camp for time. Many Of the
tents were blown over and number of them
were almost uninhabitable during the night
The light house was blown over in the Mon
itor and Merrimac show ground, and the
wind turned the roof of the grand stand into
kindling wood. *+*
Its thought here that President Cleveland's
Adirondack trip means the inauguration of O
new policy in regard to presidential trav-
cling. President Cleveland will probably
make a number Of trips during the coming
year. As you know, he has already promised
to go to st. Louis, and he will visit other
parts of the United States in the meanwhile
Mrs. Cleveland is not looking as well as she
was during the winter. She has a slight at
tack of White House malaria, and the present
trip is largely taken with q view to her COM
fort When she returns she will take up her
quarters at Oak View for the summer,
and the presidential family will remain
here rather than at the White House, the
president coming in in the morning and
driving back in the evening.
~
Speaking of the White House, Sergt. Dins-
more will leave it for good on the last of this
month. He has been here for twelve years,
and he has been one of the most valuable
body guards the presidents have ever had.
Dinsmore is q tall, fine looking man, with
bright blue eyes and fair, smooth face,
which is almost classic in its features He
stands very straight and he is personifica-
ton of muscular manhood. He has dealt
with all the cranks in the White House for
years. and he has disposed of q number of
these daily. He told me one day of many of
his experiences. One time very respectable
looking man called, and Dinsmore was about
to admit him when he noticed that peculiar
look about his eyes which is common to the
insane He stopped him, and the man abruptly
asked in sepulchral tones whether he ever read
the Bible Dinsmore replied that he did,
sometimes.
@And did you ever read the Book of Revela-
tions?n
"Yes."
"Do you remember the red man in tina.
bookW
Dinsmore said he did not.
"Well, read it again" said the stranger.
"And / will have you understand that / a''
that red mani I hold in my hands the fats-
of nations and their rulers! | make and un
make presidents! Washington, Jefferson,
Jackson, Lincoln, Grant and Hayes were
created by me! I control destiny! Now, let
the present occupant of the White House be-
ware!n And the man shook his long, red
fingers and started down the pathway to the
gate. Had he gotten in he might have made
things lively for the president.
**x
Another crank thought he owned the
White House and had come all the way from
Texas to take possession of it. Dinsmore told
him to call again, that the president would
like to stay few months longer and it
would Inconvenience him to move now. The
man said he would have preferred going
right in, but if it would be any accommoda-
ton to the president he would wait. About
three months after this he returned, and his
shoes and clothes looked as though he had
tramped all over the United States in the
meanwhile. When Dinsmore would not
admit him he grew very angry, asked the
way to the attorney generals Office and said
that he would call the law to his support.
Another crank told Dinsmore that he was
the original Jonah that had been swallowed
by the whale, and he wanted congress to pass
a bill for his relief Dinsmore handed him
over to the director Of the insane asylum, but
thew decided that he was not dangerous and
he was sent home with the idea that his bill
would be passed.
A fayorite method with Dinsmore of get
ting rid of these cranks is to direct them to a
certain street and number, where they are
told that the president will be within an hour
and where they can see him. This number
represents the police station, and the officers
entice the cranks into cells and lock them up.
They are then examined by the proper
authorities, and if the necessities OF the case
demand it are taken to the asylum. One
Texas crank presented himself to Sergt.
Dinsmore as silent candidate for the presi-
dency. He said: "My people told me that
would be king if stayed in tub of cold
water all night. 1t nearly killed me, but ! did
so. and while the water laved my legs heard
the whisperings of inspiration. George WASH
ington will soon appear and cover me with
glory! Twill preside over the White House
and I will be your master" The man was
of course as crazy as loon, and he was sum-
marily disposed of.
***
Another crank told Dinsmore that he had
come to take charge of the navy of the United
States, and that he thought he ought to have
it because lie elected Cleveland by mathemat-
ic 4 computation. This man must have been
mn Andrew jackson Democrat. for he told
Di,,sn,ore with firinness: 81 want it distinctly
understood that am not a Mugwump; am
Democrat If / am placed i'll command OF
the navy of the United States by tomorrow
afternoon there will not be left single Re-
publican in the service" Dinsmore told the
caller to write the president about it, and hen
shut the door IN the mans face. As he went
away he said: II should have the full con-
troll of this nation ON account of my scholas-
tic ability ann the greatest scholar IN the
world and the only poet left. | can put all
knowledge there is upon this globe into forms
of poetry which will dazzle, enchant and in
struct everybody"
.#m
Some of the women cranks We're, however.
the hardest to dispose of. and understand
that a great number of these came to the
White House during Arthur's administration
Some of them wanted to marry the president,
and Dinsmore told me that when Arthur
was west during his administration
woman called and said she had understood
~. he was reying particular attention TO
an Indian squaw, anl she thought this o.s
grace to the country u am willing to sacri-
fee myself" said she, rather than have hin,
marry her, and will even consent to marry
him myself Dinsmore told her she was
,,,istaken about tile suuaw story and finally